European Democrat Union

The European Democrat Union (EDU) is one of the three European wings of the International Democrat Union, along with the European People's Party (EPP) and the Alliance of European Conservatives and Reformists (AECR).^[1] Its members include Christian democratic, liberal conservative, and conservative political parties. It is only a nominal sub-entity of the IDU, since it ceased its activities in 2002.

Most EDU members are also members of the EPP, but the group also includes 'unattached' conservatives that are unaffiliated to the EPP.^[2] These are: the British Conservative Party, the Czech Civic Democratic Party, the Icelandic Independence Party, and the Liechtenstein Patriotic Union and Progressive Citizens' Party.^[3]

In the late 1990s, the last Chairman of an independent EDU, Finnish conservative politician Sauli Niinistö, negotiated the merger of the EDU into the EPP.^[4] In October 2002, the EDU ceased its activities after being formally absorbed by the EPP at a special event in Estoril, Portugal.^[5] In recognition of his efforts, Niinistö was elected Honorary President of the EPP in the same year. Moreover, in April 2008, the EPP was recognized as a Regional Union by the IDU.

References

Pan-European political organisations
Political parties recognised by the EU	Current Alliance for Direct Democracy in Europe Alliance for Peace and Freedom Alliance of European Conservatives and Reformists Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe Party Europeans United for Democracy European Alliance for Freedom Alliance of European National Movements European Christian Political Movement European Democratic Party European Free Alliance European Green Party European People's Party Movement for a Europe of Nations and Freedom Movement for a Europe of Liberties and Democracy Party of European Socialists Party of the European Left Defunct Alliance for Europe of the Nations Alliance of Independent Democrats in Europe Libertas
Political parties not recognised by the EU	Current Europe – Democracy – Esperanto European Federalist Party European Pirate Party European Party for Individual Liberty Initiative of Communist and Workers' Parties Defunct European National Front Europe United Party Movement for European Reform Newropeans
Other confederations of national parties	Current European Anti-Capitalist Left Liberal South East European Network Nordic Green Left Alliance Defunct Euronat Platform for Transparency European Democrat Union
National parties by European organisation Political groups of the European Parliament Political foundations at European level European parliamentary elections European Council composition by party Politics portal